The Flavor Apprentice Flavoring Thread

[AndriaD]

That sounds like a strawberry flavor i might actually like haha.I've tried both of tfa's and capella's,and while i can handle a small percentage ofthe capella's,i can't do either of the tfa ones at all,so i'll give that shisha strawberry a try.

It's pretty good -- I'm in the midst of making dinner right now, so can't get really involved with ejuice, but I tried a "quick n dirty," just added 5 drops of the DX BC to what I had, and that's pretty good!! It's sweet, and light; I might actually go another couple of percent higher on the strawberry, maybe 8%, when I actually make a mix of this, and maybe another percent on the sweetener too, since I'll be adding some unflavored WTA to it. But just my "quick n dirty" 5ml tester is pretty good at this point, so I think this is a real winner!

Thx y'all!
Andria

 

[kathi17]

I can appreciate what you're getting at here... but in my past DIY attempts, I tried doing less overall flavoring and it just never worked out for me, personally... I've got pretty bad allergy problem, so my sniffer doesn't work too well... in conjunction, my tastebuds are equally screwed...

I tend to need about a 30% overall flavor ratio with the remaining 70% being nic and pg... fortunately, I don't use a lot of nic at this point, so my flavors don't get messed with too much. That's what's been working for me recently, anyway... who knows what the future may bring... I may be able to get a sinus and tongue transplant...

I'm the same way. Most of the juices I've bought don't have much flavor if any, because of my allergies and many years of smoking. It's one of the reasons I'm so glad I've found this thread.

So far, I haven't had time to do much DIY, but I'm hoping that after I get back from visiting the grandchildren over the Christmas holidays, maybe I will find time to do more of it.

I was so grateful to find such a wonderful and sharing group of people, and such flavorful recipes. I hope that one day I will be able to contribute some good recipes of my own.

 

[clnire]

Andria, I understand why you didn't feel welcome here but I think it was just a misunderstanding. I hope you realize from the replies you received to your question that you most certainly are welcome and your input and ideas are valuable to all.

Just speaking for myself but I think others feel the same.

 

[AndriaD]

Well, here's what I ended up with:

Inawera Shisha Strawberry 8%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 5%
TFA Sweetener 1%


Only 14% flavoring -- but, because I use WTA, I increased each flavor element by 1%, which raises it to 17%, to offset the 5% unflavored WTA:

Inawera Shisha Strawberry 9%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 6%
TFA Sweetener 2%
WTA - 25mg 5%


It tastes pretty good, using my lil dripper; it's 10mg nic, 85/15 PG/VG. I'm giving it a few hours heat-steeping right now, which I expect will improve it still further -- it's pretty light, but that's what I was aiming for; the whole purpose of this, for me, was a "palate rester," from my usual blueberry muffin/banana nut bread. The heat-steep should let the flavors emerge a bit more, but probably not a real lot.

I'm still pursuing the elusive DIY blueberry muffin/banana nut bread. Just got some TFA Blueberry-Wild today, because of that other recent thread, in which the OP opined that Blueberry-Wild has a taste similar to blueberry muffins. Since I've used the TFA Banana Nut Bread to such good effect, I thought maybe I'd just add some Blueberry-Wild to that; my efforts so far with this mixed flavor have been too heavy in the bread/cake flavor, and I thought that might be because I'm trying to mix two flavors that both have that flavor in it, so it gets doubled in the combination mix. I'll work on that tomorrow; right now my nose is all filled with strawberry -- I can barely taste my usual blueberry banana nut muffin bread in my usual cartotank.

Andria

 

[cliffy15]

Just wanted to chime in and say thanks to everyone. I've been so busy trying everyone else's delicious recipes that it kinda derailed all efforts to make my own!

Aside from a simple (if slightly overpowered) Melona recipe I really haven't contributed anything.

I think it's about time to work out that green tea latte recipe that was my first and utter failure.

 

[baseballmom]

I have been using blueberry wild and blueberry extra together get a better blueberry in my opinion, I prefer wild, but adding some extra has given me a better, more pronounced taste..ymmv, but you might want to try to see if you like/if works for you...I know you were using blueberry extra and blueberry candy, I never used candy but recently got extra to boost my wild a little and so far, have been happy with the results.

What I've done is add 1-3% blueberry extra along with the % wild(I usually stick 4-6%), still experimenting with

 

[jimstratus]

Just to update I called my local post office yesterday morning about my package. They said they would get with the carrier for my route and call me back. Couple hours later they called back and said it was found and delivered to my home. Got home and yep there it was. So 1 800 got a case number. Local office got results. All's well that ends well. Merry Christmas everyone.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Kaezziel]

I'm the same way. Most of the juices I've bought don't have much flavor if any, because of my allergies and many years of smoking. It's one of the reasons I'm so glad I've found this thread.

So far, I haven't had time to do much DIY, but I'm hoping that after I get back from visiting the grandchildren over the Christmas holidays, maybe I will find time to do more of it.

I was so grateful to find such a wonderful and sharing group of people, and such flavorful recipes. I hope that one day I will be able to contribute some good recipes of my own.

Yep, between allergies and about 20 years or so of smoking, my sinuses are wrecked. And we all know that taste and scent are tied together... probably explains my love of really spicy food (I can actually taste it).

Have fun with the grandkids, and you already know there is a ton of support here for when you get back and get ready to really dig into mixing... I know what you mean about this thread and group... wish I'd ran across it earlier! My last DIY attempts were just barely vapeable, so I was in no hurry to try again... everyone here has changed that, and now I'm actually excited to sit down in my make-shift juice lab and start throwing stuff together!

 

[PaulBHC]

A non smoker once told me that smokers like spicy food and strong drinks because they can't taste anything.

When you quit smoking, someone will ask if food tastes better. I've always said no but never stopped for this long. I won't say it is better but I can taste things that I don't think I did for a long long time.

 

[Kaezziel]

A non smoker once told me that smokers like spicy food and strong drinks because they can't taste anything.

When you quit smoking, someone will ask if food tastes better. I've always said no but never stopped for this long. I won't say it is better but I can taste things that I don't think I did for a long long time.

Well... growing up in the south along the Mississippi river and eating cajun spiced crawfish at a young age would probably explain my love of spicy food more than my smoking ever did... but I'd say there is probably some truth in that thought process... my sense of smell and taste has improved somewhat, but I'm afraid that for the most part, the damage is done...

 

[T3Texas]

Not to derail, but I agree fully. as a 20+ year smoker I loved spicy foods, still do. But some things I used to be able to eat and enjoy are not so good anymore. That was a shock, I'm still trying to comprehend. Some of my favorite foods don't taste as good anymore.. And I love food...

A non smoker once told me that smokers like spicy food and strong drinks because they can't taste anything.

When you quit smoking, someone will ask if food tastes better. I've always said no but never stopped for this long. I won't say it is better but I can taste things that I don't think I did for a long long time.

 

[Kaezziel]

Just a note for anyone who hasn't used the French Vanilla Deluxe... apparently that is a very strong flavor and can easily overpower your juice. As I said yesterday, I added 2% to my Peaches & Cream recipe, and I taste mostly the vanilla... last night I thought I'd just add some more juicy peach to bring the peach flavor back... no luck there! I don't know what my final ratio is, but I added two small droppers full of peach to the mostly full 30ml bottle, and still taste mostly just vanilla...

Now I know why you guys say to start low and add from there... my assumption that 2% is low was definitely incorrect...

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

Just a note for anyone who hasn't used the French Vanilla Deluxe... apparently that is a very strong flavor and can easily overpower your juice. As I said yesterday, I added 2% to my Peaches & Cream recipe, and I taste mostly the vanilla... last night I thought I'd just add some more juicy peach to bring the peach flavor back... no luck there! I don't know what my final ratio is, but I added two small droppers full of peach to the mostly full 30ml bottle, and still taste mostly just vanilla...

Now I know why you guys say to start low and add from there... my assumption that 2% is low was definitely incorrect...

Maybe 2% is not low on that flavoring, but it's pretty low on a 30% mix, and usually cannot be tasted as an individual flavorings. Flavors become apparent in steps (percentages), unique to each flavoring, and that's what takes time to learn. I have found that for me, using most creams and vanillas and sweetener/cotton candy, my go-to flavorings, if kept at or under 6%, they act as flavor enhancers, and don't become dominant. However, many people would think 5% sweetener, as an example, would be way too sweet. So, to each their own, we must develop our own rules of taste, and adjust recipes to suit our preferences. I think I may have one or two recipes that use that flavoring. Both are vanilla flavors, though, not enhancers. Better luck with vanilla swirl and sweet cream, or Bavarian cream, myself.

The nice thing about TFA, though, is that we do have both weak flavors and strong flavors, allowing us the flexibility to create what we want. Some flavor brands are all so strong, it can be difficult to make anything with them, as even a little bit tends to dominate. LA cream cheese icing is one such flavor. Love the flavor, but it's very hard to work with so that it doesn't dominate the mix. I really don't like flavorings where 1% is way too low, and 2% is way too high. I like a slower progression in flavoring, so that I can control it better. I like complex flavorings, and the weaker flavorings are more useful to me in creating them, not super strong flavorings. TFA is pretty much perfect for this type of juice making, imho. Good Luck!

 

[Kaezziel]

Maybe 2% is not low on that flavoring, but it's pretty low on a 30% mix, and usually cannot be tasted as an individual flavorings. Flavors become apparent in steps (percentages), unique to each flavoring, and that's what takes time to learn. I have found that for me, using most creams and vanillas and sweetener/cotton candy, my go-to flavorings, if kept at or under 6%, they act as flavor enhancers, and don't become dominant. However, many people would think 5% sweetener, as an example, would be way too sweet. So, to each their own, we must develop our own rules of taste, and adjust recipes to suit our preferences. I think I may have one or two recipes that use that flavoring. Both are vanilla flavors, though, not enhancers. Better luck with vanilla swirl and sweet cream, or Bavarian cream, myself.

The nice thing about TFA, though, is that we do have both weak flavors and strong flavors, allowing us the flexibility to create what we want. Some flavor brands are all so strong, it can be difficult to make anything with them, as even a little bit tends to dominate. LA cream cheese icing is one such flavor. Love the flavor, but it's very hard to work with so that it doesn't dominate the mix. I really don't like flavorings where 1% is way too low, and 2% is way too high. I like a slower progression in flavoring, so that I can control it better. I like complex flavorings, and the weaker flavorings are more useful to me in creating them, not super strong flavorings. TFA is pretty much perfect for this type of juice making, imho. Good Luck!

Thanks, Bill... I'll have to keep playing with it. I already had vanilla bean ice cream in with the peach, but wanted to bring the vanilla forward just a little bit more. I over-did it. Not too worried about it, it's still a tasty vape, and I know I'll have more failures in the future. We learn more from our failures than we do our successes, anyway, so that isn't necessarily a bad thing, imo.

But I can definitely tell that I'm going to love the french vanilla when I decide to throw together a more "pure" vanilla mix... I may finally be able to cure those vanilla cravings like they want to be!

I understand what you mean about 1% being too low and 2% too high... doesn't leave you with a lot of wiggle room. My only other experiences with flavors were Totally Wicked and LorAnn's. I'm definitely enjoying the TFA much more than those other two!

 

[AndriaD]

I have been using blueberry wild and blueberry extra together get a better blueberry in my opinion, I prefer wild, but adding some extra has given me a better, more pronounced taste..ymmv, but you might want to try to see if you like/if works for you...I know you were using blueberry extra and blueberry candy, I never used candy but recently got extra to boost my wild a little and so far, have been happy with the results.

What I've done is add 1-3% blueberry extra along with the % wild(I usually stick 4-6%), still experimenting with

Ok, that sounds like a very good plan. The blueberry candy is ok, but yeah, it's more of a candy flavor than a real fruit flavor. I wasn't using much of it, since according to that flavor percentage list, it's a tank cracker, but as just a kind of "highlight" note.

I recently tried some of the other brands of blueberry too; the CAP isn't bad at all, maybe a little weak, but the FW... ugh. Not sure what that is, but it sure doesn't taste like blueberries. Blueberry perfume, maybe.

Andria

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

I want to share one, or two, of my blogs with all of you about high flavor mixing vs. long steep times:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ime-try-high-flavor-percentages-time-mix.html

I also want to share an actual mix that I went through to create a chocolate covered cherries for a fellow member:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ade-chocolate-chocolate-covered-cherries.html

If you can't see these because you're using these on your phone, or what have you, they were all once, originally posted here:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...entice-flavoring-thread-346.html#post14228238

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...entice-flavoring-thread-433.html#post14339663

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...entice-flavoring-thread-283.html#post14122827

Some of you may find these useful, particularly if you want to learn to make good juice, and want to vape it before Christmas, or this evening. Happy holidays everyone!

Your final 30% flavoring recipe;
1. Double Chocolate - 5%
2. Milk Chocolate - 5%
3. Vanilla Swirl - 6%
4. Bavarian Cream - 4%
5. Cotton Candy - 6%
6. Butter - 2%
7. Cherry (extract) - 2%

Then take each flavoring percentage and divide it by the total percentage to come up with a 100% flavoring mixture;
Vanilla Swirl - 20%
Cotton Candy - 20%
Double Chocolate - 16.7%
Milk Chocolate - 16.6%
Bavarian Cream - 13.3%
Butter - 6.7%
Cherry (extract) - 6.7%

Now, mix with PG and/or VG to the ratio you like or need, allow for nicotine if desired. (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, etc. for total flavor inclusion)

Chocolate, Vanilla, and Creams all change over time, depending on your taste this change may be for the better or not so much, only you can decide what is or is not a good change. There is no doubt that they will change though.

The original recipe calls for 30% total flavor inclusion, and tastes just fine off of the mixing table (which is great if you vape it till it's gone). However if we fail to vape every last drop of this mix, because our ADD has us trying out 150 recipes that sound wonderful, and pick it up a few weeks down the road to enjoy it again, only this time the experience is simply too creamy, or too chocolaty, or overpowered by cherry, or possibly just too dense with flavor, you can say this is not a stable recipe. Basically its flavor is not fixed upon creation.

You can accept that the recipe is only good for a short time and never make more than what you will vape in the time it does not alter beyond your expectations or ...

You can accept that flavors need time to develop and become stable.

Each an every flavor has a different length of time it needs to stabilize in PG and VG, this isn't unlike knowing where to throw a football so that it reaches a player on the field who is running a pattern, the player isn't there now but will be at the same time the ball gets there.

Knowing how a flavor will change with time allows us to adjust ahead of time, much like a quarterback knowing the pattern the player will run and how fast that player can get there allows him to adjust where he will throw the ball so the ball an player are at the same point on the field at the same time.

Most flavors that change at all do so in under 6 weeks and then essentially stabilize. A notable long steep flavor is Black Honey Tobacco, tastes like crap prior to week 5, by week six it is ready to go. Then there is Kona Coffee, you can just about bring a closed bottle of the flavoring close to your base liquid and it's ready to go, LOL.

Steeping does not have a fixed directional effect on each flavor. In very loose terms, flavor increases or decreases, mouth feel increases or decreases, aroma increases or decreases, etc. all individual to the flavor. Some flavors don't change much at all, no matter how long they steep.

Your aim as a mixer is your own, if you vape what you mix right away, there is no point in steeping or even knowing what steeping does. As the length of time increases between mixing and vaping, so does the importance of understanding what changes will occur to your eliquids.

The following recipe is good off the table, but spectacular 3 weeks and beyond because the vanilla components need time to fully develop.

Opus R. by: Maurice

30ml 12mg/ml 60/40 pg:vg (Steep 3 weeks) 11% total flavor

12.0 ml VG
7.5 ml 48 mg/ml nicotine 100% PG
7.20 ml PG
3.3 ml (11%) Opus R. Flavor (PG) MP

I prefer the same recipe at 8.25% total flavor inclusion, 50:50 pg:vg, and 1mg/ml nicotine, mainly because when I vape this I'm using a RBA or RDA that has better flavor communication. The flavor ratios do not change just the total quantity of flavor used.

30ml 1mg/ml 50/50 pg:vg (Steep 3 weeks) 8.25% total flavor

15.0 ml VG
0.62 ml 48 mg/ml nicotine 100% PG
11.91 ml PG
2.47 ml (8.25%) Opus R. Flavor (PG) MP

To make either of these, or any other total flavor inclusion percentage I desire I mix the following;
30 ml Opus R. Flavor (PG) MP
13.62 ml (45.4%) Cinnamon Red Hot (PG) TFA
6.36 ml (21.2%) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream TFA
5.49 ml (18.3%) Vanilla Swirl TFA
1.83 ml (6.1%) Brown Sugar Extra TFA
1.35 ml (4.5%) EM 10% PG TFA
1.35 ml (4.5%) Pie Crust Flavor TFA diluted (0.15 PC in 15 ml PG)

So what is the difference between the steeped version and the not steeped versions with Opus R.? Smoothness and complexity come with time, where as the off the table version has more of a pronounced simplicity. The visual color change this recipe goes through as it ages if kept where light is able to get to it is interesting as well, though not really a huge taste factor modifier oxidation of the flavoring and nicotine does alter this juice to a small degree. At three weeks the flavor is stable and will not change greatly. The complementing flavors will have developed to their full potential and share in the spotlight ingredient Cinnamon Red Hot.

To the question of how long did it take to come up with this. I would say it took less total time to create this mix than it took me to type out the reply I am writing right now. A few minutes of contemplating what ingredients I want to use, a few extra to punch out the numbers, maybe a couple more in actual mixing. A few test vapes as the juice steeps gives me time to determine what modifications are in order. So all in all maybe 12 minutes per version, this is the result of 4 recipe versions each tested at 10 different total flavor inclusion percentages, so maybe an hour total time in actual development. I think if my job was to just design e-liquids, creating something this nice every 60 minutes would be something to be quite proud of, granted it will take a whole three weeks for that to start being realized, but that is the beauty of having just a little bit of patience.

Could it be improved upon by someone to better suit their own taste, I'm sure it could, yet for me it is exactly what I set out to create so for me it is done. Had it taken a few more alterations to get it where I wanted it, I would not have been bothered.

I make 4 30 ml bottles for my friend each month and a 30 ml bottle for myself, as long as there are 5 or more bottles steeping I'm in no rush to mix more.

Good things come to those who wait.

 

[AndriaD]

Just a note for anyone who hasn't used the French Vanilla Deluxe... apparently that is a very strong flavor and can easily overpower your juice. As I said yesterday, I added 2% to my Peaches & Cream recipe, and I taste mostly the vanilla... last night I thought I'd just add some more juicy peach to bring the peach flavor back... no luck there! I don't know what my final ratio is, but I added two small droppers full of peach to the mostly full 30ml bottle, and still taste mostly just vanilla...

Now I know why you guys say to start low and add from there... my assumption that 2% is low was definitely incorrect...

I don't have the "Deluxe," but I got the "French Vanilla Creme" because it's diketone-free, and it seems to have much the same kind of power. I tried a little of it with Inawera Cappucino, and it came out so strongly vanilla, it's hard to taste the coffee -- I was really going for just a hint, and got a baseball bat. It's still good -- vanilla is one of my favorite flavors -- but it's like putting about 2 tbsp of vanilla into coffee, instead of the 1/4 tsp I might normally put.

Andria

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

I don't have the "Deluxe," but I got the "French Vanilla Creme" because it's diketone-free, and it seems to have much the same kind of power. I tried a little of it with Inawera Cappucino, and it came out so strongly vanilla, it's hard to taste the coffee -- I was really going for just a hint, and got a baseball bat. It's still good -- vanilla is one of my favorite flavors -- but it's like putting about 2 tbsp of vanilla into coffee, instead of the 1/4 tsp I might normally put.

Andria

For some of the very strong flavors I dilute them ahead of time, I don't find it very easy to measure out some of the very low percentages I use when testing things so dilution helps with making the measuring process easier.

Like this poster, I dilute kona coffee, because that stuff is beyond strong.

what I do with it is mix 1% kona with PG/vg in a 10ml bottle and then use that at 1-3% in my mix I usually mix it with a vanilla and caramel it's pretty tasty IMO

Maurice

 

[AndriaD]

For some of the very strong flavors I dilute them ahead of time, I don't find it very easy to measure out some of the very low percentages I use when testing things so dilution helps with making the measuring process easier.

Like this poster, I dilute kona coffee, because that stuff is beyond strong.


Maurice

A very good idea, and I think with my French Vanilla Creme, definitely needs to be done. I also got some CAP Vanilla Custard V2 (diketone-free), and it's a bit more subtle, with a taste somewhere between the French Vanilla Creme and the Bavarian Cream. (I was asking, some time back, about the diff between custard and bavarian cream, since I had always thought they were the same thing -- now I know, but I also understand why it's hard to actually describe that difference! -- it's subtle!)

Andria

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

Your final 30% flavoring recipe;
1. Double Chocolate - 5%
2. Milk Chocolate - 5%
3. Vanilla Swirl - 6%
4. Bavarian Cream - 4%
5. Cotton Candy - 6%
6. Butter - 2%
7. Cherry (extract) - 2%

Then take each flavoring percentage and divide it by the total percentage to come up with a 100% flavoring mixture;
Vanilla Swirl - 20%
Cotton Candy - 20%
Double Chocolate - 16.7%
Milk Chocolate - 16.6%
Bavarian Cream - 13.3%
Butter - 6.7%
Cherry (extract) - 6.7%

Now, mix with PG and/or VG to the ratio you like or need, allow for nicotine if desired. (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, etc. for total flavor inclusion)

Chocolate, Vanilla, and Creams all change over time, depending on your taste this change may be for the better or not so much, only you can decide what is or is not a good change. There is no doubt that they will change though.

The original recipe calls for 30% total flavor inclusion, and tastes just fine off of the mixing table (which is great if you vape it till it's gone). However if we fail to vape every last drop of this mix, because our ADD has us trying out 150 recipes that sound wonderful, and pick it up a few weeks down the road to enjoy it again, only this time the experience is simply too creamy, or too chocolaty, or overpowered by cherry, or possibly just too dense with flavor, you can say this is not a stable recipe. Basically its flavor is not fixed upon creation.

You can accept that the recipe is only good for a short time and never make more than what you will vape in the time it does not alter beyond your expectations or ...

You can accept that flavors need time to develop and become stable.

Each an every flavor has a different length of time it needs to stabilize in PG and VG, this isn't unlike knowing where to throw a football so that it reaches a player on the field who is running a pattern, the player isn't there now but will be at the same time the ball gets there.

Knowing how a flavor will change with time allows us to adjust ahead of time, much like a quarterback knowing the pattern the player will run and how fast that player can get there allows him to adjust where he will throw the ball so the ball an player are at the same point on the field at the same time.

Most flavors that change at all do so in under 6 weeks and then essentially stabilize. A notable long steep flavor is Black Honey Tobacco, tastes like crap prior to week 5, by week six it is ready to go. Then there is Kona Coffee, you can just about bring a closed bottle of the flavoring close to your base liquid and it's ready to go, LOL.

Steeping does not have a fixed directional effect on each flavor. In very loose terms, flavor increases or decreases, mouth feel increases or decreases, aroma increases or decreases, etc. all individual to the flavor. Some flavors don't change much at all, no matter how long they steep.

Your aim as a mixer is your own, if you vape what you mix right away, there is no point in steeping or even knowing what steeping does. As the length of time increases between mixing and vaping, so does the importance of understanding what changes will occur to your eliquids.

The following recipe is good off the table, but spectacular 3 weeks and beyond because the vanilla components need time to fully develop.

Opus R. by: Maurice

30ml 12mg/ml 60/40 pg:vg (Steep 3 weeks) 11% total flavor

12.0 ml VG
7.5 ml 48 mg/ml nicotine 100% PG
7.20 ml PG
3.3 ml (11%) Opus R. Flavor (PG) MP

I prefer the same recipe at 8.25% total flavor inclusion, 50:50 pg:vg, and 1mg/ml nicotine, mainly because when I vape this I'm using a RBA or RDA that has better flavor communication. The flavor ratios do not change just the total quantity of flavor used.

30ml 1mg/ml 50/50 pg:vg (Steep 3 weeks) 8.25% total flavor

15.0 ml VG
0.62 ml 48 mg/ml nicotine 100% PG
11.91 ml PG
2.47 ml (8.25%) Opus R. Flavor (PG) MP

To make either of these, or any other total flavor inclusion percentage I desire I mix the following;
30 ml Opus R. Flavor (PG) MP
13.62 ml (45.4%) Cinnamon Red Hot (PG) TFA
6.36 ml (21.2%) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream TFA
5.49 ml (18.3%) Vanilla Swirl TFA
1.83 ml (6.1%) Brown Sugar Extra TFA
1.35 ml (4.5%) EM 10% PG TFA
1.35 ml (4.5%) Pie Crust Flavor TFA diluted (0.15 PC in 15 ml PG)

So what is the difference between the steeped version and the not steeped versions with Opus R.? Smoothness and complexity come with time, where as the off the table version has more of a pronounced simplicity. The visual color change this recipe goes through as it ages if kept where light is able to get to it is interesting as well, though not really a huge taste factor modifier oxidation of the flavoring and nicotine does alter this juice to a small degree. At three weeks the flavor is stable and will not change greatly. The complementing flavors will have developed to their full potential and share in the spotlight ingredient Cinnamon Red Hot.

To the question of how long did it take to come up with this. I would say it took less total time to create this mix than it took me to type out the reply I am writing right now. A few minutes of contemplating what ingredients I want to use, a few extra to punch out the numbers, maybe a couple more in actual mixing. A few test vapes as the juice steeps gives me time to determine what modifications are in order. So all in all maybe 12 minutes per version, this is the result of 4 recipe versions each tested at 10 different total flavor inclusion percentages, so maybe an hour total time in actual development. I think if my job was to just design e-liquids, creating something this nice every 60 minutes would be something to be quite proud of, granted it will take a whole three weeks for that to start being realized, but that is the beauty of having just a little bit of patience.

Could it be improved upon by someone to better suit their own taste, I'm sure it could, yet for me it is exactly what I set out to create so for me it is done. Had it taken a few more alterations to get it where I wanted it, I would not have been bothered.

I make 4 30 ml bottles for my friend each month and a 30 ml bottle for myself, as long as there are 5 or more bottles steeping I'm in no rush to mix more.

Good things come to those who wait.

Thank you for this explanation. While I understand exactly what you were doing before you wrote this, my focus on this thread is to help the new DIY'er, and this method, which works great for you, is just not the way to do it, imho. I'm not sure why you won't acknowledge that there are other ways to make juice other than your own, some vastly superior to it, from my point of view. I just want to get those frustrated DIY'ers up to speed, vaping their own juice, saving money today, vaping it tonight, and not trying to create a once in a lifetime experience, which is often how long-steeptime juices happen. Your way is A way, ONE way, not the only way, and I respect that it works for you. Doesn't work for me, didn't when I tried it for six months, and probably won't for most new DIY'ers. It is neither efficient, expedient, nor superior, nor simple, and more often than not, fails. I need those things. New DIY'ers need those things. Do you not understand where I am coming from? Different strokes for different folks?

With all due respect, I think your method sucks. Many DIY'ers give up waiting to make good juice. After six weeks of steeping, it still sucks most of the time, and who wants to take a year to just vape some juice? Time has proven that much to me, over and over. The fact that you have developed a marvelous recipe that takes weeks to be vapable may be a triumph to you, but it doesn't seem like it to me. The fact that I can probably copy your juice within an hour and be vaping it tonight, probably does not occur to you, but I've been doing that for a long time with about a 90% success rate. Aged juice is just a flavor change, not a change that cannot be matched today. All the commercial juice makers know this and practice this for the most part. I'm delighted it works for you, but your talking to the wrong guy about convincing me your way is a good way, or best. I've already proven the opposite to myself, to juice makers, to vendors and to vapers. You should give it a try, or at least acknowledge there's more than one way to get the job done. People will never learn to make great juice your way, imho. Maybe you prefer it that way. I'm all about giving it away, helping others, sharing what I've learned, and being fair and honest about the whole process, and have done so to the best of my ability. Trust me, I get it....